CQ WPX SSB Contest 2026: SZ40A On the Air This Weekend

CQ WPX SSB Contest 2026: SZ40A On the Air This Weekend from SZ1A

This weekend the microphones at SZ1A will once again come alive as the CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest returns and thousands of stations around the world prepare for one of the most exciting weekends in amateur radio contesting.

For this year’s edition, our team will be active with the special anniversary callsign SZ40A, celebrating 40 years of the Radio Amateur Association of Western Greece and four decades of activity, learning, friendship, technical experimentation, and contesting spirit.

From 0000 UTC Saturday, March 28, until 2359 UTC Sunday, March 29, 2026, the HF bands will be filled with signals from across the globe as operators chase prefixes, hunt multipliers, and push their stations to the limit.

And this year, we hope many of them will be calling SZ40A.

The Bands Are About to Come Alive

For 48 hours, the HF spectrum will transform into one of the most intense operating environments in amateur radio. Signals from every corner of the world will fill the bands as operators chase prefixes, multipliers, and personal records. Rates rise, band openings shift without warning, and every contact becomes part of a global competition that connects thousands of stations across continents.

For the team at SZ1A, this weekend is another opportunity to push the station, the operators, and our teamwork to the limit while representing the club on the international contest stage.

What Makes the CQ WPX Contest Special

The CQ World Wide WPX Contest is one of the largest and most popular events in amateur radio. Originally organized by CQ Magazine and now administered by the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation, it brings together thousands of operators and contest teams from around the world.

What truly sets WPX apart is its unique scoring system.

Unlike many major contests that use countries or zones as multipliers, WPX uses callsign prefixes. Each unique prefix counts once as a multiplier, regardless of band. A prefix is simply the first part of a callsign, such as N8, HG1, KC2, OE2, or LY1000.

This creates a very different contest dynamic. Rare prefixes can suddenly become highly valuable, and stations anywhere in the world can contribute meaningful points. It is also one of the few major contests where everyone can work everyone for points, which keeps activity consistently high across all bands and regions.

Special event callsigns become particularly attractive in this context. Since each unique prefix is a new multiplier, SZ40A is expected to draw strong interest from operators looking to boost their multiplier count.

At the same time, the exchange format adds another layer of challenge. In CQ WPX SSB, operators exchange an RS report along with a progressive serial number:

59 001
59 002
59 003

Each contact increases the serial number, and because this number is unique and sequential, accuracy becomes critical. Even a single incorrect digit can invalidate a QSO during log checking. This makes disciplined operating and careful logging essential.

All of this comes together in a scoring system that rewards both speed and strategy.

The final score is calculated by multiplying total QSO points by the number of different prefixes worked. QSO points vary depending on band and distance. Intercontinental contacts are worth more than contacts within the same continent, and lower bands such as 160m, 80m, and 40m carry higher point values than higher bands.

As a result, operators must constantly balance multiple factors: maintaining a strong run rate, hunting new prefixes, taking advantage of band openings, maximizing low band opportunities, and managing multipliers efficiently.

This combination of accessibility, intensity, and strategic depth is why WPX is widely considered one of the most balanced and strategically engaging contests in amateur radio.

Important Update for 2026

A key rule change for this year’s contest concerns log submission deadlines.

Logs must be submitted within 48 hours after the contest ends, no later than:

23:59 UTC on Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Logs are submitted via:
https://www.cqwpx.com/logcheck/

This is a major change from previous years. Logs submitted after the deadline may appear in the results but will not be eligible for awards. Make sure your log is ready and submitted on time. Do not leave submission for the last minute.

Anyone planning to participate should read the contest rules carefully before the contest begins.

Official rules:
https://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm

What Happened Last Year in CQ WPX SSB

According to last year’s official CQ WPX SSB results article, the 2025 contest became the largest CQ WPX SSB event ever held. Participation spanned all continents, with Europe accounting for the largest share of activity.

The numbers illustrate the scale of the event.

Propagation conditions also played a major role.

Almost one third of all QSOs were made on 10 meters, highlighting the strong solar cycle conditions that produced excellent high band openings.

Some impressive operating achievements were also recorded. One multi operator team achieved 740 QSOs in a single hour, the highest hourly rate ever recorded in CQ WPX SSB.

The contest also produced several new world and continental records, demonstrating how competitive the event has become.

The official report also highlighted that serial number copying errors were the most common mistake found during log checking, once again demonstrating how important careful operating is in this contest.

SZ1A and Our WPX Story

The SZ1A contest station represents the contesting activity of the Radio Amateur Association of Western Greece, a club founded in 1985.

Over the years the station has grown steadily through continuous improvements to antennas, infrastructure, operating techniques, and team coordination.

Contesting has always been an important part of the club’s activities, and the CQ WPX Contest has become one of the events that best reflects the station’s progress.

Recent results show a clear trend of improvement.

• 2023: 4,468 QSOs, 1,218 prefixes, 9.56 million points
• 2024: 4,724 QSOs, 1,356 prefixes, 11.08 million points
• 2025: 5,074 QSOs, 1,418 prefixes, 12.60 million points

The 2025 contest delivered the best CQ WPX SSB performance in the history of the station, confirming the progress achieved through years of teamwork and station development.

With the experience gained and continued improvements to the station, the team is excited to return to the contest once again.

Celebrating 40 Years of RAAWG with SZ40A

This year’s contest has special meaning for our club. The Radio Amateur Association of Western Greece – SZ1A, is celebrating 40 years of amateur radio activity.

To mark this milestone, we will be active from March 1 to May 31 using the special anniversary callsign SZ40A.

To make the celebration more engaging for the international amateur radio community we have created the SZ40A Anniversary Award Program.

Stations who work SZ40A can qualify for commemorative awards at several levels in four distinct categories (SSB, CW, DIGITIAL and MIXED modes).

• Bronze: 3 QSOs with SZ40A
  
  
• Silver: 6 QSOs with SZ40A
  
  
• Gold: 9 QSOs with SZ40A
  
  
• Platinum: 12 QSOs with SZ40A

Contacts can be accumulated across CW, SSB, Digital, and Mixed modes, making the award attractive for DXers and casual operators alike.

Operators can learn more about the award requirements and apply for the award online at:

https://awards.sz1a.org

A major international contest like CQ WPX SSB provides an excellent opportunity to work SZ40A on as many bands as possible, collect a valuable prefix multiplier, and move closer to earning the anniversary award.

Team SZ1A on the Air as SZ40A

This weekend SZ40A will be active from the SZ1A contest station in the Multi Two category.

This category allows two transmitters to operate simultaneously on different bands and requires strong coordination, disciplined band management, and teamwork.

Our operators and support team are listed below in alphabetical order.

See You in the Pileups

The CQ WPX Contest is one of those weekends when the HF bands truly come alive.

Signals from every corner of the world fill the spectrum as operators chase prefixes, hunt multipliers, and push themselves to achieve their best performance.

This year, when you hear SZ40A on the air, you will be hearing a callsign celebrating 40 years of amateur radio history, teamwork, experimentation, and community spirit.

If you hear us calling, jump into the pileup.

Work the prefix.
Add SZ40A to your log.
Chase the anniversary award.

From everyone at SZ1A, we wish you great propagation, high rates, and an exciting contest weekend.

73 from Team SZ1A 📡